Photographer's Note

Small-scale wooden balconies started to appear in Valletta during the mid-eighteenth century and gradually gained popularity and became the fashion. This might have been influenced in no small way by the construction of the two grand wooden balconies of the Grand Master's Palace referred to earlier. So universal was their spread that they eventually came to be referred to by the misleading name of La Maltijja (the Maltese) as if they were original to the place.

In reality this type of balcony was derived from North African, mostly Moroccan, prototypes which again derive from the Arabic Muxrabija (look-out place). During the rule of the Order, Malta was home to a huge number of predominantly Turkish slaves, some of whom were master craftsman who might have helped to introduce the wooden balcony to Malta. Wooden balconies are mostly made of red deal (ta l-ahmar). They used to be priced by purtella (window section) and often matched the main door. In the case of wrought iron ones these were made to match the grada (gate) that separated the main door from the street. But as an old saying puts it "the sun eats the wood while rain gives it drink". Thus our climate is particularly stressful to these structures. The best traditional solution was always thought to be paint which gives the wood strength and oils.

The British introduced a particular type of green that is slowly assuming the status of official colour for wooden balconies, particularly in Valletta. But traditionally, wooden balconies varied in colour like bright red, deep blue and exotic purple. Carpenters were the main craftsmen involved in their creation but blacksmiths were brought in for the various metal parts like gangetti (peg stays) and cappetti (hinges).

Contrary to another popular belief, it must be said that the wooden balcony became widely diffused in the British era, not the Orders'. This was due to the availability of timber, the consequent reduction in price and relative prosperity. Prior to the arrival of the British and their transformation of Malta into one of the main Mediterranean ports, timber was prohibitively expensive.

Hello Daniel, very good photograph of this beautiful and interesting facade with typical Maltese balconies, beautifully captured in this interesting image, with very good perspective, great sharpness, nice light, color and quality. Excellent and interesting job well done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good evening and happy start to the week.
Best wishes from southern Spain.
Angel.

Hi Daniel - beautiful collection of colored balconies here, some looking quite old. Fascinating history for them as well. Would love to see a straight ahead view here to get a sense of them as a whole, but I imagine that's impossible on what I'm betting is a fairly narrow street. Thanks for this wonderful angle!

Hello dear friend
impessive and excellent chosen point of view
showing those colorful balconies
nice and interesting work welldone
with the greatest lightness
a real postcard by which we
travel to this beautiful place
regards
have a nice day
Costantino

Hello Daniel - A very attractive close crop composition which shows off the details of the balconies well. The characterful textures, colours and styles are making a pleasing subject. Nicely done! Warm regards Rosemary

Informative note about the origen of the balconies made of wooden and the way they are painted
I saw in Iquique a port at the very north of Chile, streets and of course houses made of wood, also painted to preserve them

Hi Daniel
beauty!
this is probably the most colorful photo i've seen of these wood balconies.
Usually we see 1 or 2 colorful ones, but here we see a number of them.
this is like a colorful rainbow.
pretty cool.
lots of textures too.
cheers
craig

Hello Daniel
What a spectacular and colorful array of 'look-out places' seen in tight crop for a most-attractive view on those ancestors of Facebook and Twitter, used to spread the news to the neighbours!
Cheers.
Robert